Several groups are organizing fundraisers to help area residents whose homes have been flooded.
Three Rivers Rain Relief is the first to announce plans. They are sponsoring a concert Saturday, July 7, from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Columbia County Fairgrounds Banquet Hall. Music will be provided by Wayne Levy & Friends. Admission is $10.
Donors are asked to make checks payable to Three Rivers Rain Relief.
Catholic charities will administer the funds to local flood victims in the form of gift cards from local businesses and will include gasoline, restaurants, lodging Lowe's Home Depot and WalMart
Donations, in excess of the $10 admission, are tax deductable and can be made at the event or at sponsoring businesses:
Online at Three Rivers Rain Relief
Hearing Solutions, Inc.
183 N.W. Veterans Street
Lake City (386) 758-3222
Morgan Law Center
235 Duval Street
Lake city (386) 755-1977
TD Bank, all branches
When details are available, the other events will be posted n the Journal.
The Columbia County Emergency Management is asking the public’s assistance in identifying those that may need to be evacuated still from flood water and those roads that may still be under water that the county is not aware of yet, please call the Citizens Information Center 386-719-7530, the Center (CIC) remains open around the clock.
Richardson Middle School is also still open as a shelter, it is located one block south of Baya Avenue on Pennsylvania Street.
Mosquito spraying continues tonight and throughout the week from 6:00pm – 11:00pm.
Flood warnings remain in effect for the Suwannee River at White Springs. The Suwannee at White Springs crested Wednesday with an unofficial stage of 85.23, the third highest flood at White Springs exceeded only by 1973 (88.56) and 1984 (85.36). Record-keeping at this gage started in 1906. The 32' rise in two days appears to be the fastest by far in the record, beating a 20' rise in 2 days in 1996. Early morning on the 26th the river was rising 2.4 feet per hour. White Springs should fall below flood stage late next week.
Flood warnings are in effect for the Santa Fe at Fort White, Three Rivers, and Hildreth.
The Santa Fe above O'Leno State Park near I-75 and at the US 441 Bridge near High Springs have crested. The Santa Fe near Fort White at the 47 Bridge crested at an unofficial stage of 32.24. Three Rivers is above flood stage. It is appears to have crested at 23.29. No-wake restrictions are in effect for the Santa Fe between O'Leno River Rise and the Suwannee confluence.